The True Story of the Irish in Boston | History

[crowd yelling] NARRATOR: Timothy Lynch and Michael Ryan, two young Irish Americans, targeted by police. Beatings, poverty, discrimination, anti-Catholic prejudice ensures the city's Irish minority remain stuck at the bottom of the ladder. Anti-Irish sentiment was anti-Catholic sentiment, and there were some horrific examples of it in 19th and early 20th century America. [groaning] Boston's North End, where we are now, becomes the heart of Boston's Irish community. It's just a few steps from the docks, where the ships are unloading. All of these apartments would house 30, 40 people. You're just paying for a spot on the bed or a place to sleep. No indoor plumbing, no washing facilities, very little ventilation. NARRATOR: For one man, enough is enough. They did what? NARRATOR: This is Patrick J. Maguire, tenacious, Catholic, fiercely Irish American. Born in Ireland, educated and ambitious, he realizes America offers a unique way to help his people escape poverty and oppression. Using the tools of American democracy to win political power with Boston's first Irish mayor. [bangs on table] Gentlemen, the time has come. We must make our voices heard. [crowd muttering in agreement] To Boston! To Boston! To the Irish! To the Irish! NARRATOR: In 1883, Maguire persuades fellow Irishman, Hugh O'Brien to run. Gentleman, a few words from your first Irish candidate. [cheering] Thank you, thank you. NARRATOR: But with the Catholic Irish immigrant community in a minority, Maguire knows he'll need Protestant Yankee votes to win. O'Brien has a timeless message for what he will do. He's going to cut taxes, but also not cut any services. In 1884, for the first time ever, O'Brien wins a clear victory, showing a path out of poverty and injustice for all future immigrants. Maguire's lasting political legacy is showing that the Irish people, or really, any immigrant people, can have a home here and that they will have a political voice in the American republic. NARRATOR: Today, there are over 32 million Americans who claim Irish heritage, five times the population of Ireland itself.

Channel: HISTORY

Views: 74,868

Keywords: history, history channel, history shows, history channel shows, irish history, irish, Ireland, america, united states, history america, american history, boston, politics, full episodes, episodes, clips, original series, sneak peeks, The True Story of the Irish in Boston, The True Story of the Irish in Boston's promo, The True Story of the Irish in Boston's documentary, The True Story of the Irish history video, The True Story of the Irish in Boston video, Boston's Irish population

Id: vZ6ryw8KCWs

Length: 3min 21sec (201 seconds)

Published: Thu Mar 12 2020